Gas tank cap lock



ct. 29, 1935. L. RYDELL I 2,019,237

GAS TANK CAP LUCK Filed July 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 my. Z

Inucnlor L. RYDELL Oct. 29, 1935.

GAS TANK CAP LOCK Filed July 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I l 4 I !I 3Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS ram: car LOCKLeonard Rvdell, Wansau, Wis. pplication my s, 1935, Serial No. 30,175 2Claims. (CI. 26-50) My invention relates generally to means for lockingthe cap of the filling neck of an automobile gasoline tank to preventtheft of the gasoline in the tank, and particularly to an electricallock I installed within the filling neck and having normally a positionin which it looks the cap on the neck, but which may be electricallyoperated into another position in which the cap is unlocked with respectto the filling neck.

a An important object of my invention is to provide a simple andmechanically and electrically eflicient device of-the characterdescribed which is electrically operable only while the ignition switchof the automobile is in the on position, which E position of theignition switch cannot be achieved without the use of the ignition key.

Gther important objects of the invention will be apparent from a readingof the following description in connection with the drawings, wherekilin for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodiment ofmy invention.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 tea general side elevational view of the device of theinvention. 3

as Figure 2 is a top plan view on Figure 1 with the cap removed.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1approximately on the line 3-3 and looking toward the right in thedirection iii) of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken through Figure 1approximately on the line 84 and looking toward the left in thedirection of the arrows.

35 Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the cap.

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing the switch on thefilling neck.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 generally designatesthe automobile gasifl oline tank in the top or side of which is mountedthe filling neck 5 on which is the filling neck cap 7.

In accordance with the present invention one side of the filling neck Ihas an interior closed electro-magnet containing chamber 8 in which is45 mounted a vertical solenoid electro-magnet 9 in which works the lockplunger it which has a helical spring ll engaged with its bottom andlocated between the plunger and the bottom of the chamber 8 whichnormally keeps the plunger 50 In in an elevated locking position. Amagnetically permeable head I2 is located on the plunger It in magneticrelation to the electro-magnet; and this head has a cut away portion I!at one side which cooperates with the shoulder ll 55 formed in the sideof the filling neck, whereby the head I! acts as a stop in conjunctionwith the shoulder l4 ior limiting the upward movement of the plungerunder the impetus of the spring H. The upper part of the-plunger worksthrough abracket l5 adjacent the upper end of the filling neck, wherebythe plunger is steadied and its action made more efiicient. The side ofthe filling neck I is downwardly tapered as indicated by the numeral IEto Join the shoulder i4, and the side of the chamber l8 extendsoutwardly of the 10 side 0! the filling neck as clearly shown in Figures2 and 4.

Alongside the exterior portion of the chamber 8 is a switch casing ll ofgenerally rectangular form which is removably mounted by a means RBindicated by the numeral l8 to the side r the filling neck and containsa dielectric block is on which is located a contact to be engaged by thelateral arm 2| on the lower end of the switch arm 22 which works in theJournal bracket 23 20 extending up along the exterior of the fillingneck and having on its upper end the curved operating arm 24 which hasattached to the back thereof the outwardly urging spring 25 whichnormally engages the exterior of the filling neck to keep 25 theoperating member 24 in an outwardly swung position in which the contactarm 2| is disengaged from the contact 20. Pressing the operating arm 26toward the filling neck will result in engaging the contact arm 2| withthe contact 28 30 so as to close the circuit to the magnet 9, andenergize the same, supposing the ignition switch to be in its onposition and at the time the arm 25 is swung inwardly, theelectro-magnet 8 will be energized so as to retract the plunger I 0 in adownward direction and out of locking relation to the filling neck capI. If the ignition switch (not shown) is not in its on" position at thetime of operating the switch arm 24, the electro-magnet 9 will not beenergized.

The upper end of the filling neck has a radially inwardly extendingflange 26 whichhas diametrically opposite openings '2'! to receive, inthe usual manner, the lugs 28 on the filling cap I. lugs 28 are shapedas indicated in Figured and angulated as indicated by the numeral 29.The cap has on its underside the usual compressible washer 30.

When the filling cap is placed in position on the filling neck byinserting the lugs 28 through the openings 21 and the cap is turned inthe locking direction, one of the lugs 28 will engage its inclinedunderside with the top of the plunger l0 and in further rotating in thelocking direction, the cap will cause the plunger It to be depressedagainst the tension of its spring ll, so that when the lug has passedthe plunger 10 the plunger will spring up into place on the oppositeside of the lug and act as a stop for positively preventing rotation ofthe cap in the unlocking direction, thereby locking the cap on thefilling neck and preventing theft of the gasoline in the tank.

With the ignition switch of the automobile in the "on position, theswitch arm 24 may be pressed in the manner already indicated to retractthe plunger IO and enable rotating the filling neck cap in the unlockingdirection.

Although I have shown and described herein a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not desire tolimit the application of the invention thereto, and any change orchanges may be made in the materials, and in the structure andarrangement of the parts, Within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a filling neck having a radially inward flange at itsouter end formed with radially opposed openings therein, a filling neckcap having lugs adapted to be entered in said openings to assume aposition under said flange when the cap is rotated in the lockingdirection, and a member arranged to assume a position relative to one ofthe lugs on the filling cap so as to prevent movement of the lug in theunlocking direction, said member comprising a core, an electro-magnet inmagnetic relation to said core, said core being normally spring-pressedin locking direction, and switch means mounted on the exterior of thefilling neck for closing a circuit to the electro-magnet for retractingsaid member into the unlocking position.

2. In combination, a filling neck having a radially inward flange at itsouter end formed with radially opposed openings therein, a filling neckcap having lugs adapted to be entered in said openings to assume aposition under said flange when the cap is rotated in the lockingdirection, and a member arranged to assume a position relative to one ofthe lugs on the filling cap so as to prevent movement of the lug in theunlocking direction, said member comprising a core, an electro-magnet inmagnetic relation to said core, said core being normally spring-pressedin looking direction, and switch means mounted on the exterior of thefilling neck for closing a circuit to the electro-magnet for retractingsaid member into the unlocking position. said neck being provided with ashoulder, a housing mounted in the neck for electro-magnet and beingdisposed below the shoulder, a head on the member between the shoulderand the casing for limiting the movement of said member.

LEONARD RYDELL.

